How Amazon refunds work in 2025 (and when you get your money back)

Amazon updated its return policy during 2025 to find a middle ground between customer satisfaction and business efficiency. The vast majority of products available for sale and delivered by Amazon are returnable within 30 days of delivery, as long as they are new and unused. Electronics and other high-ticket items may have more restricted return windows. The updates are aimed at helping restrict return abuse and improve inventory management.

Amazon has a longer holiday return period. For purchases made between November 1st and December 31st, purchases are eligible for a January 31st following year return date. This longer window provides customers with more flexibility, especially in gift returns. It also relieves seasonal return backlogs for sellers and Amazon.

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Amazon returns made easy, except for a few non-returnable items

Some few items are not returnable. Some of them are gift cards, downloadable computer products, customized products, and personal care items, due to health and safety concerns. Some third-party sellers' items come with different return options, and thus it is advisable to read each seller's terms before purchasing.

Amazon makes the return process easy with multiple options. Customers can start the return from their account, print a label, and drop off packages at Amazon lockers, Whole Foods, Kohl's, or UPS. For other cases, Amazon will even issue refunds without requiring the item back, particularly for low-cost or hard-to-resell products.

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Amazon’s 2025 return policy adds fees and stricter rules for sellers

The sellers will also need to adapt to revised return policy changes. Return processing charges for high return rate items and new reimbursement policies for lost or damaged inventory have been introduced by Amazon. The revised changes are intended to encourage enhanced inventory management as well as stem excess return-related expenses.

Generally, Amazon's new 2025 return policy changes show a move toward wiser, more effective e-commerce. Both buyers and sellers are urged to familiarize themselves with the new regulations to avoid last-minute surprises and seamless transactions throughout the platform.